The State Council released a circular on July 11, stating a prior collaboration group on air pollution prevention in Beijing, Tianjin, North China’s Hebei province, and adjacent regions will be readjusted and renamed a leading group on air prevention instead.

According to the circular, the newly established leading group will be in charge of implementation of policies on air contamination, joint control of air pollution, overall planning and supervision on pressing matters and research on measures improving regional air quality.

The leading group will be helmed by Vice-Premier Han Zheng and flanked by four deputy heads — Li Ganjie, minister of ecology and environment, Chen Jining, mayor of Beijing, Zhang Guoqing, mayor of Tianjin, and Xu Qin, governor of Hebei province.

The new lineup also includes other members from ministries and provincial regions, and its steering office will be at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.